Springfield daily republic. [volume] (Springfield, O. [Ohio]) 1887-1888, 1887-02-19

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cien the other day may be cited. He said:
AN old colored man, who lives west of
this city is suffering from case of cata-
ract. was told of the case and expressed
a willingness to perform the operation free
he was without money-if he could be
brought to some place in the city where IT
would cost me a small loss of time To at
tend him. during and subsequent 10 the
operation. No such place could be found,
and the operation had 10 go unperformed.
Had there been hospital he could have
been taken to it, and the operation per
formed there. As it was. ii would have cost
me from S25 to $50 in time and trouble To
perform the operation and could not af-
ford it" Dozens of such cases are continu-
ally occurring. The hospital cannot be
built too quick.
What's the use of signing to live in Flor
ida when we can buy nice sweet oranges
right here at the Springfield fruit stores at
ten cents per dozen? You can do il, any
day.
The manager of Blind Tom. the great
colored pianist, told Dave Wilborn, of the
Lagonda house. that another concert Will
be given in Springfield soon. when Tom
will play an entire change of programme.
Dave thinks that Blind Tom has more sense
than many give him credit for. When he
was leaving the room at the Lagonda house
he noticed that his coat was slightly frayed
at one of the edges. He grinned and said:
"Why, my coat is in a dlapidated condi-
ton. isn't it," He then stopped a minute
and said: "Dilapidated. dilap-i-dated-
that's right. isn't it?" ''Yes, Tom; 'dilapi-
dated >" said the manager. He then re-
peated the word over slowly, as if to fasten
it on his mind forever.
Springfield audiences are noted for get
ting as much for their money as audiences
anywhere. and vet the timidity of our local
pianiSts resulted in the loss of the most in
teresting evidence of his wonderful musical
powers namely, that of reproducing com
positions after listening TO them
once. OF all his performances
this is the most miraculous. We have a
dozen p:anistS in Springfield who can give
the limitations of music. ban 10 and guitar a,
well as Tom. We have several who can
play programme of long, difficult pieces
from memory. but to play piece after
hearing il but once-there Is the rare DIN
. Guilty. and vet when Blind Tom gave his
concert here and the manager invited any
one in the audience to step on the stage and
play any piece whatever. for Tom to imi-
tate, notwithstanding the fact that there
were fifteen piano players in the audience,
no one dared to do the deed. and conse
quently the most interesting part OF the
performance was lost. Our pianists must
be saving their courage, and practicins
some hard pieces so as to be ready for Tom
the next time he comes this way.
came across little book the other day,
giving a complete history of Tom and his
achievements from birth. 1t was fasci
mating history. 1t seems that Tom is
not totally blind; he can see a little.
He was born blind: but when hi
grew to be lad he was OBJ
served to frequently look upwards toward:
the sun. poking his eyes with bis
| fingers the while, until the eyeballs seemed
ready to burst from their sockets. He ther
got into the habit OF pokinR
| in his eyes with sticks. often So vigorously
that his eye-lids would bleed and the bloot
run down his face. He would make passe.
| in front of his eyes the while. with hi:
hands. His eyes by this treatment becam,
much inflamed, but were So much excited
and stimulated by this barborous treatmen
that Tom soon acquired the power of seeing
very bright lights and objects very close Il
| him. which power he now enjoys. 1t Il
hoped that he will ultimately acquire hi.
| full sight. Tom is
HUMAN PHONoGRArH.
| Every thing he hears seems craven on hi:
mind and can be reproduced in future a
will. as Photographic plates retain the i'm
preston, and pictures can be made from
/ them at any time.
He loves not only musical sounds. but
natural sounds as well. As child. he wa.
| found with eyes up-turned TO heaven. lis
tening in mute ecstacy to tht
soft piashing of rain as it fel
! rom the spouts of the large Southern
/ house which Tom first called home. Tn,
sweet sounds made such an impression OF
| his baby ears that he Immediately went Il
| the piano. and interpreted the sounds int
| the language of music, which is since know
as his Ram Storm"
''Our meals are all banquets this week,
| said one husband to another down tOwr
\ the other day. How SOP said the latter
why, you see" said the first. my wife i
going TO the cooking school this week, an,
she gets up all the dishes she has learned Il
make in the last lesson. am believer il
good cooking. They won't let man prac-
/ tice medicine without diploma, and
don't think they ought TO let girl get mar
ried unless she has a dplOma as q goo,